YGAP opens applications for First Gens accelerator program for migrant and refugee-led social impact startups

Not-for-profit YGAP has opened applications for its 2018 intakes of First Gens, an accelerator program aimed at providing support to early-stage social impact companies led by migrants and refugees in Australia.

Kicking off with a five day ‘live in’ accelerator, the program is followed by three months of support, including strategy sessions, meetups, legal and accounting help, and access to grants up to $1,000. First Gens aims to help break down the barriers often faced by migrants and refugees when starting a business, finding employment, or otherwise participating in a community.

The top entrepreneurs from each cohort will move into First Gens’ growth phase program, through which they will be given access to a wider support package, and up to $25,000 in funding.

Elliot Costello, CEO of YGAP, said, “We are thrilled to be launching the First Gens program. It is the first program of its kind in Australia, and we are excited about using our experience working in some of the most challenging places in the world to drive change in an often neglected sector here in Australia.”

Among the graduates of First Gens are Eat Up, an organisation making and delivering thousands of lunches to kids in need at over 100 schools across Melbourne and regional Victoria with the help of volunteers and hospitality students, and Gift Box, a social enterprise donating tampons to homeless women for each box of tampons bought.

YGAP received $304,000 in grant funding from LaunchVic last year to help it run three accelerators over two years.

Dr Kate Cornick, CEO of LaunchVic, said the organisation’s funding for YGAP comes as it looks to fulfil its vision of empowering anyone, no matter their background, to start a startup.

“A diverse and inclusive startup ecosystem is essential because we want the startup ecosystem to reflect broader society. We don’t want people being left behind because they feel like they don’t fit in,” she said.

The idea came to Aiman Hamdouna, director of Hatch Quarter, through his own experiences moving to Australia more than 10 years ago and learning to navigate the local community and business and regulatory landscape.

“I feel honoured to be living in a country that recognises migrants and refugees as valuable assets to the startup industry. We are a community and a company that can facilitate the knowledge and information to entrepreneurs, migrants and refugees who are ready for wanting to learn more about how to start their startup idea,” he said.

With submissions open for entrepreneurs to share their stories and experiences, the playbook will be published in a number of languages, including Arabic, French, Hindi, and Mandarin.